Wednesday, January 15, 2014

From the new Bookin'! - Peace? Ptui!!

Mose Skinner's Grand
Peace Jubilee and Jewsharp Oratorio.

Boston; New England News Company:
1869.

A biting satire of Boston's famous
National Peace Jubilee, which was organized
by Patrick Gilmore and took place in Boston
on June 15, 1869. The Jubilee was by all
accounts a complete success, with more than
11,000 performers, including 100 choral
groups, an orchestra of 525 musicians, and a
486-piece wind band. The Jubilee, in fact,
became the "high-water mark in the
influence of the band in American life" (Crawford, America's Musical Life:
A History).But before any of this took place the size
and scope, as well as the concept of
celebrating peace with Southerners (with
whom there had been some recent
"unpleasantness"), created doubters. An
excellent example is this satirical booklet by
James E. Brown, writing under the name
Mose Skinner, the text of which first
appeared as a series of columns in the Wide
World news paper. Aside from his obvious doubts about the possibility that such a grand undertaking could ever succeed, one sees doubts
about whether it even -should- succeed, the Jubilee being only a few years removed from the
bloodiest war ever fought on American soil. For instance- "In order to promote kind feelings
toward the South, and create a feeling of confidence, Confederate scrip will be considered legal
tender, on the five days of the Festival, - and any person passing a greenback (on the sidewalk)
will be subject to arrest. One-armed and one-legged soldiers are requested to retire into the
country, in order that their presence may not cause any unpleasant recollections to arise in the
minds of our Southern friends". Ouch.
Softcover. 4.5"x7.5", 21 pages, plus several pages of advertisements. Front cover damaged, with
a small hole, and general wear and soil, creases, etc. [39932] $100